Thursday, 19 September 2013

Welcome to my miniature arcade! Well, it has been three and a half years since i first started making these models. I have to admit when i look back at some of my work from 3 years ago, the spec and design of my work has improved and evolved massively over that time. Everything i have done has been completely self taught, and i have spent on average some 40 + hours per week x 3.5 years honing my craft. That adds up to an insane 7,000 + hours !!

I recently made the biggest upgrade in my model spec i have ever done, so please bear in mind most of the photos on my blog are out of date and not as good as the work im doing.

On the arcade models, i now use a harder grade of wood, and i make the screens have a 3d effect, and i also mount tiny buttons on them now too.

With the pinball models, i improved the lockbars, and started adding plungers, buttons and stuff, and also spraying the legs with a super wicked metallic paint. The results are awesome !!

If you want to talk to me about my work, or order any of it, feel free to shoot me an e mail at themachines@live.co.uk, or use the contact form on my blog here.

Friday, 14 June 2013

Another new idea i had - to create a super deluxe pinball model that somehow had the sounds / music of the pinball table featured.

I bought a really cool sound module re-recordable device, which allowed you to record 30 seconds of audio. Then i built this device into the cabinet of a pinball table model.

Watch the Video ~ http://youtu.be/ucmtK8RWQYQ

Since i went to all this trouble i figured i would go to another level with the detailing on the model too, and so i put a genuine metal plunger on it, miniature hand crafted buttons, and then a super detailed 3d playfield and backglass.

I picked Creature from the Black Lagoon as the design i wanted to try it out on, as i LOVE that table, and i particularly love the music and sound effects from it. So on the playfield i built it up in 3D, and even recreated the hologram effect that is on the full size table ... with a window you can peer down into inside the playfield that has the ominous creature himself reaching out to grab you !!

I built a sort of button / switch device on the rear side of the model, so when you want the model to start making sounds, you just reach behind it and flip this little silver panel.

Then i recorded the music from the game, some sound effects, and ball bouncing effects, and put them onto the sound unit.

I can make this design spec for any pinball model that i make ( see price list page ) ... in terms of pricing, the sound unit bumps up my material costs, and the extra details are a heck of a lot of work, so it is going to have to be £34.99... BUT, it is by far and away the most detailed pinball model design i have put out in all the time i have been doing this

Well, i took a really cool miniature electronic game and built a scale cabinet around it, in 1/12th scale, so it matches up with all my other work. I just felt it would make a really cool additional item to go alongside all my other mini arcade and pinball models.

The electronic unit is removable from the cabinet, and has lights and sounds functions too.

Saturday, 27 April 2013

I can make pretty much 90% of the arcade models i make, fitted with a
super cool 1.5 inch backlit LCD screen. The screen displays still
photo's of the game, or animated GIFS. looks mega good when installed
into a cabinet, and i supply with pre loaded images, and a USB lead, so
you can plug the cabinet into your PC to charge it up and alter the
screen content.

These are £24.99 each, but that includes free shipping to anywhere on our beautiful planet earth !!!